Abstract: A high performance capability assessment model helps a utility industry business meet the challenges of the global marketplace. As a result, the utility industry business can achieve the clarity, consistency, and well-defined execution of core processes that reduce inefficiencies and waste that result from unnecessary process complexity and exceptions. In addition, the high performance capability assessment model helps the utility industry business to identify specific areas in which improvements may be made and understand how to make the improvements, and establishes levels of capability along the way to reaching an ultimate capability goal.

Abstract: An improved location based authentication (LBA) system for detecting fraudulent transactions committed by means of misuse of payment cards is disclosed. The improved LBA system performs a series of transaction analysis and generates a fraud-score which provides an indication as whether to authorize an attempted transaction. The system is designed to increase profitability of credit card companies by reducing the accumulated losses due to fraud. In one embodiment, the system detects fraud by analyzing the behavior patterns of card holders and merchants.

Abstract: System and methods for facilitating the settlement of financial accounts across different entities utilize a host computer system that tracks financial transactions made at each merchant location or store and uses this information to reconcile accounts across different entities. In one embodiment, for redemption transactions that occurred within one of the entities other than where the associated account was activated, the host computer system is configured to prepare a request to transfer a redemption amount to a central account from an entity account associated with where the account was activated, and to prepare a request to transfer less than the redemption amount from the central account to an entity account associated with where the redemption transaction occurred.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program for determining and utilizing a time-expanded decision network is presented. A set of potential system configurations is defined. Next, switching costs are quantified to create a “static network” that captures the difficulty of switching among these configurations. A time-expanded decision network is provided by expanding the static network in time, including chance and decision nodes. Minimum cost paths through the network are evaluated under plausible operating scenarios. The set of initial design configurations are iteratively modified to exploit high-leverage switches and the process is repeated to convergence. Time-expanded decision networks are applicable, but not limited to, the design of systems, products, services and contracts.

Abstract: A valuation optimization method includes generating offeree decision information (buyer decision information, by way of illustrative example) by presenting a sequence of mechanisms to a sequence of offerees wherein the mechanisms comprise menus of transaction offers (sale offer menus, by way of illustrative example). Actual transactions (sale transactions, by way of illustrative example) are conducted responsive to acceptances of transaction offers by buyers. At a selected time in the generating, an offeree valuation distribution belief and the current mechanism are updated optimize an offeree's utility. The offeree's utility comprises an offeree's utility function constrained by a robust learning constraint computed based on a local differential of an earlier offeree's utility function with respect to the earlier offeree's valuation.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to software for prioritizing client engagements at accounting practices. The disclosure describes various data inputs, a business objectives preference module, an optimization engine, user schedule(s), and, in an embodiment, a database or data warehouse. The optimization engine receives requests for new clients, requests for new projects for existing clients, or the like, receives business objectives, receives a current client engagement schedule and receives various additional input data, preferences, or user settings. The engine outputs an updated client engagement schedule, including, for example, whether undertaking the new client or project is advisable based on some or all of the input data.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a first activity map. A first mobile client determines first positioning information based on a first position of the first mobile client. The first mobile client generates a second activity map using the first positioning information of the first mobile client as a damping factor for activity in the first activity map. The first mobile client sends the second activity map to a balancing manager. A third activity map is received from the balancing manager. The third activity map is based on the second activity map from the first mobile client and a second activity map from a second mobile client. The second activity map from the second mobile client is generated using second positioning information for a second position of the second mobile client as the damping factor.

Abstract: A pension insurance plan system and method protect the outstanding balance of a defined contribution plan loan secured by participant's plan assets, eliminating adverse tax consequences to the plan beneficiary in the event of the death or disability of the participant and ensuring that the full plan account balance passes intact to beneficiary in such event.

Abstract: A set of answers is received to a series of questions sent to a consumer of services, the set of answers to the series of questions is analyzed in a computer to identify types of service providers that can provide services to the consumer based on the received answers, and an agenda is produced, the agenda including the identified types of service providers and topics for the consumer of services to discuss with a service provider of each type, with the topics determined at least in part based on the answers.

Abstract: A method for ensuring valid participation of a plan participant in a defined contribution pension plan provides data query for identifying the plan participant. A pension debt coverage policy protects an outstanding balance of a defined contribution plan loan secured by participant's plan assets, eliminating adverse tax consequences to the plan beneficiary in the event of the death or disability of the participant and ensuring that the full plan account balance passes intact to beneficiary in such event.

Abstract: A system and method is provided that provides an early indication of consensus of opinion among a number of users regarding an event or observation indicated by a user. Such an opinion may be interesting to an information consumer, who may be interested in determining the outcome of the consensus relating to the event or observation, or may otherwise desire to perform surveillance or survey of a particular issue or subject. Such recognition of early events or observations may be useful in different areas, such as healthcare, finance, etc., where initial observations, if provided early, allow resulting decisions to be made much earlier. The opinion may, for instance, be used as an early indicator of problem with a product, company, etc. that would permit an information consumer to perform an action at a much earlier point than if he/she relied on traditional sources of information. Thus, such opinion information may be invaluable as a tool for monitoring events.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively distributing revenues generated from delivering specific healthcare advertisements and non health-care specific advertisements over electronic medical record systems (EMR) and a regional healthcare information network (RHIN) using an electronic advertising server in a manner compliant with HIPAA and Federal Anti-Kickback laws.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for executing a comparison of a medical device operational parameter to an order.

Abstract: A method and system for workflow management in a business process environment is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes determining respective attributes of a plurality of business documents received via an input device of the computing device, and receiving a set of business rules associated with the plurality of business documents. The set of business rules are based on the attributes of the plurality of business documents. The method also includes forming a plurality of queue filters for segregating a set of transactions associated with the plurality of business documents based on the set of business rules, and forming a plurality of queues based on the plurality of queue filters and at least one activity associated with the set of transactions. Further, the method includes generating on a display of the computing device, a list of agents assigned for each of the plurality of queues.

Abstract: A system and method for uniquely identifying data streams associated with medical equipment are described. The system may be implemented in a variety of ways, including as a combination of a medical device, a data stream identifier, and a medical device identifier. The medical device generates a plurality of data streams. The data streams are uninterrupted transmissions of data from the medical device. The data streams include information regarding the operation of the medical device. The data stream identifier attaches a unique data tag to the data streams. The medical device identifier is configured to generate a medical device tag. The 10 medical device tag includes information to uniquely identify the medical device and is accessible from an external computer. The data stream identifier and the medical device identifier are secured to the medical device.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are disclosed for requirements decomposition and management. The apparatus includes a collection module, an organization module, and a graph module. These modules carry out the steps of collecting a project task description, the project task description comprising one or more properties, generating a directed acyclic hierarchy of one or more project tasks associated with the project task description, and generating a directed acyclic hierarchical graph view of the project, wherein the directed acyclic hierarchical graph view of the project comprises one or more nodes representing the one or more project tasks, and wherein the one or more nodes are arranged to graphically illustrate a directed acyclic hierarchical relationship between the one or more project tasks.

Abstract: A pension insurance plan method involves administering claims made against a pension debt coverage policy provided in the plan. The policy protects an outstanding balance of a defined contribution plan loan secured by participant's plan assets, eliminating adverse tax consequences to the plan beneficiary in the event of the death or disability of the participant and ensuring that the full plan account balance passes intact to beneficiary in such event.

Abstract: The software of the present invention provides a means for creating a file of unpaid claims for a service provider. The software is used to create one or more queries to compare information in the file of claims against records in a benefit provider's database to determine the eligibility status of the claim. A file is created containing each claim for which a matching record in the benefit provider's database is found, and the information from that matching record. A report can be generated from the file of matching claims and benefit provider records, so the claims can be submitted for payment by the service provider.

Abstract: A system for the adjudication of insurance claims, such as automobile repair claims, by an insurance provider is provided. A claim submitted by a policyholder is received is received by the insurance provider. The claim is assigned to an insurance adjuster. The insurance provider receives a determination of a dollar value of the claim from the adjuster, and uses this information to determine how much money to disburse to the policyholder. The insurance provider then issues an account funded with the dollar value of the claim to the policyholder, accessible by the policyholder through a card. As the card is used, the insurance provider collects purchase information, such as information relating to the date, place, and amount of each purchase made on the account. The insurance provider may then collate the purchase information in a database and analyze the data for mathematically significant trends and relationships.

Abstract: A pension insurance plan method governs the establishing and administering of a loan premium towards a plan loan secured by participant's plan assets, eliminating adverse tax consequences to the plan beneficiary in the event of the death or disability of the borrower-participant and ensures that the full plan account balance passes intact to beneficiary in such event.